Attack Helicopter MI-24 Hind

Flying Infantry Combat
Vehicle

Development of aviation technology
closely mirrors the military and political situation worldwide. For example, cost curve to
picture aircraft and helicopters production in the USA features clear-cut peaks:
1954-1957, 1966-1968 and 1985-1986. These refer to wars in Korea, Vietnam and the
so-called Reagonomics era (Afghanistan). At every such peak unique specimens of air
technology emerged.

The
helicopters included the Sikorsky S-55 in Korea, Bell UH-1 Irokez and Bell AH-1 Cobra in
Vietnam; AH-64 Apache - Reagonomics. Our helicopter-building industry reacted adequately
and produced Mi-4, Mi-8, Mi-24 and Mi-28 helicopters respectively. Today we will tell our
readers about Mi-24 gunship helicopter with transport capability.
Such a unique helicopter 'flying infantry combat vehicle' was the
brainchild of M.L.Mil, helicopters general designer.
His idea implied the development of a helicopter similar to an
American Cobra helicopter, capable of carrying a powerful armament systems and boasting at
the same time high flying performance, combat survivability and a capacity to accommodate
eight troops (full strength squad) with personal weapons and extra ammunition owing to a
decrease in its combat load.
As the gestation period for the new types of armament and
observation-sighting devices took longer than the helicopter's development, M.L.Mil
decided to fit the first version of the Mi-24 with armaments and sights currently used at
that time. Such a new armament system was first tried on the Mi-4 (K-4V) helicopter. The
rapid tempo of the Mi-24 development can be attributed to partial or complete unification
of the most complicated and vital units, which were previously intended for Mi-8 and Mi-14
helicopters. These units comprised a hub and blades of the main rotor, swash plate, tail
rotor, main gear box, rotor drive system and finally the TV3-117 engine. It took one year
only to pass from the drawing board (August 1968) to the maiden flight of this helicopter.
The development of new armament systems
and devices was carried out simultaneously with the flying trials of the first helicopter
prototype. This led to the development of a more roomy cockpit for the crew. This updated
cockpit accommodated armament systems and sighting systems similar to those mounted on the
first prototype. The first production version of the Mi-24 helicopter, the Mi-24A, became
operational that way. This helicopter differed from the first prototype by a stub-wing
anhedral of -12 deg. with pylons at wingtips for the Phalanga (Phalanx) antitank missiles.
This was done to compensate for the lateral instability which appeared during flying
trials of the prototype.

At least 200 Mi-24A helicopters were
manufactured during the five years of their production. The operation of these
helicopters, including combat missions, contributed greatly to their further development,
updating and improved reliability. This also allowed training pilots and maintenance
personnel both in our country and abroad.
The operational experience of the Mi-24A revealed in particular
the poor external view from the pilot's cockpit. This drawback forced a radical change in
the helicopter nose to accommodate the new weapon systems and sights. In the final
version, the pilot and weapon operator were seated in tandem, stepped cockpits under
individual canopies. The unfixed mount with the YaKB-12.7 (Yakushev-Borzov) machine gun,
boasted a high rate of fire (4,000-4,500 r.p.m) and was remotely controlled via the
KPS-53AV sighting station and housed in the exterior front part of the weapon operator's
cockpit. The cartridge box previously housed in the pilot's cockpit was installed under
the cockpit floor and handled from the outside. There was another problem to solve: it
involved the provision of a broad view (±60 deg. in azimuth) for the Raduga observation
device used by the weapon operator, which would not impair visibility by structural
members and similar view for the command radio link antenna. They were installed on both
sides of the fuselage, below the outline of the machine-gun mount. This marked the final
general appearance of the crew cockpit and of Mi-24D and Mi-24V as a whole. These
helicopters jointly underwent state trials and were launched into series production.
As mentioned earlier, the D version differed from the A version
owing to the Phalanga-P antitank missile system incorporating Raduga-F semiautomatic
guiding system, which increased the accuracy of antitank missiles two times. In addition,
the gyrostabilizing guidance device provided for helicopter's maneuverability within ±60
degrees in yaw during missile guidance, thereby increasing its effectiveness. The
provision of a remotely controlled machine gun USPU-24 for the equipment of the Mi-24D
ensured automatic introduction of the corrections into firing. The system also comprised
an analogue computer compatible with the airborne system of modulating transducers. The
unguided armament of the Mi-24D helicopter was not changed, as was the case with the
Mi-24A helicopter.
Adoption of the final version of the helicopter Mi-24V was
delayed by the development of a new generation Shturm-V antitank missile system. It should
be noted here that the Shturm-V system was reviewed as a helicopter version of the ground
system Shturm-S. However, the helicopter version was the first to become operational. In
addition to the Shturm-V system, the ASP-17V, an automatic pilot's sight was mounted on
the Mi-24V. This sight was a modification of the sight developed for the Su-17 aircraft.
Consequently, the main work on the army transport-combat
helicopter came to an end and the Mi-24D and Mi-24V became operational in conformity with
Government Decree dated March 1976.
The Mi-24 helicopter remained for a long time the powerful and
effective combat vehicle. As a reward of their efforts, the main developers, including
Designer General M.N.Tischenko, were awarded Lenin prizes. Meanwhile a large group of
designers, workers and customer's representatives were given government awards. However,
work on the Mi-24 was still not over. A roomy compartment to accommodate troops
predetermined further development of utility versions, including: ? Mi-24P helicopter
intended for chemical and radiation reconnaissance. This helicopter underwent a baptism of
fire when determining the scope of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power station; ?
Mi-24K reconnaissance artillery spotting helicopter intended for ground forces.
However, most development work on the Mi-24 was geared to
increase its combat and fire power.

1. Pilot's
cockpit of Mi-24 helicopter.

2. NPPU-24
fixed mashine gun mount.

3.
UPK-23-250 pod and Sturm antitank missile system.

As
mentioned earlier, small arms mounted on the Mi-24D and Mi-24V comprised the unfixed mount
with the YaKB-12.7 machine gun boasting high rate of fire.
To increase fire power, two versions of versatile helicopter pods
were developed: each one contained either one YaKB-12.7 machine gun and two 7.62mm TKB-621
high rate fire machine guns or a 30mm rocket launcher nicknamed Plamya.
Subsequently the Mi-24 carried UPK-23-250 universal gun pods
fitted with a 23mm GSh-23 gun, developed by the A.S.Yakovlev Design Bureau and intended
for aircraft.
However, the military insisted on fitting the helicopter with a
built-in 30mm gun armament. As the final layout at that time didn't provide for mounting
on the Mi-24 a 30mm unfixed gun mount, it was decided to fit the vehicle with a GSh-30
(Gryazev-Shipunov) fixed gun mount.
The Mi-24P, fitted with GSh-30K gun mounts with longer barrels,
was tested in Afghanistan and was highly praised by flying crews. This fact was notable.
It's worth telling more about it. Whatever one's personal opinion
on this war, it's safe to say that our military contingent suffered militarily and
climatically. In these circumstances the Mi-24 put up a good show as a reliable and
formidable combat vehicle.
The Mi-24VP was the last production version of the Mi-24 to
differ from the Mi-24V by swapping the USPU-24 unfixed machine gun mount for the 23 mm
GSh-23 unfixed gun mount.
As well as updating the small arms, rocket armament fire power
was also increased. The helicopter was fitted to fire a new generation of rockets S-8,
S-13 and S-24, instead of 57mm unguided rockets (S-5).

At present, the Mi-28 is also being unified. For example, the Mi-24V, P and VP
helicopters underwent trials to use the new generation of guided missiles nicknamed Ataka,
which represent a further development of the Shturm antitank missile system. The guided
missiles intended for the Mi-28 boast more armor-piercing capability, compared to the
Shturm antitank missile system, including firing against targets with explosive-reactive
armor. They have longer range of fire and various warheads to engage air targets.
The performance of the Mi-24 can be radically improved by using
main and tail rotors of the Mi-28.
Day/night observation-sight systems intended for the Mi-28 can be
also used by the Mi-24.
In short, the Mi-24 lives on. Far from all opportunities to
improve its combat and flying performances have been exhausted.

FLYING INFANTRY COMBAT VEHICLE DERIVES NEW QUALITY

Thirty years ago,
the Mi-24
helicopter, developed in compliance with the ideas of General Designer Mikhail Mil, has
taken off for the first time. Over these three decades the helicopter has gone through
many flashpoints and the legendary Mi-24 has been designated the flying infantry combat
vehicle not without reason. However, thirty years is a long life for a combat helicopter.
Therefore, in early March the Mil Experimental Design Bureau demonstrated a fundamentally
modernized derivative, designated the Mi-24VM (Mi-35M), of the Mi-24 helicopter that has
made a perfect showing under complicated combat conditions. The conspicuous features of
the modernization, offered by the Mil Design Bureau, consist in modular updating of the
Mi-24. In this case, any module (unit) can be individually modernized in accordance with
the customer's request and financial potentialities.

Installation of a new main rotor provided with blades made of glass fiber
plastics, a hub furnished with elastolar bearings, and an X-shaped tail rotor developed
for the Mi-28N helicopter, makes it possible to decrease the mass of the flying machine,
increase its hovering ceiling and rate of climb, and improve its overall operating
characteristics and invulnerability.

In modernizing the airframe, armament system and
communications facilities, the Mil Design Bureau offers to install a shortened wing and
nonretractable landing gear and retrofit the hydraulic system. In addition to this, the
client may wish to replace a number of equipment components, as well as install new bomb
racks, missile launchers, and radio set.

The primary emphasis has been placed on an increase of weapon
effectiveness. The Ataka air-to-ground guided missiles (ammunition establishment has been
increased up to 16 missiles) have been introduced into the helicopter's armament system.
The missiles can also be used against air targets similar to the Igla-V guided missiles.
The 12.7mm machine-gun mount has been replaced by a 23mm aircraft cannon. The most
up-to-date BVK-24 computer and a laser range finder have been introduced into the
heliborne equipment. A modernization program on this scale makes it possible to increase
the accuracy against a single target 1.5 times, while increasing the kill zone 2 to 2.5
times when delivering cannon fire. The combat effectiveness of employing the guided
missiles increases twofold on average.

The modernization will ensure the helicopter's
round-the-clock combat readiness. The use of night-vision goggles with flight information
displayed in the field of view, and equipping the helicopter with an optronic fire-control
station comprising of thermal imaging and TV channels, control channel, and laser range
finder, as well as display systems, enables the crew to detect and recognize targets at
night and employ the heliborne weapons both by day and night.

It should be pointed out that this modernization program
will prolong the service life of the Mi-24, designed thirty years ago, until the years of
2015 - 2020, and essentially increase the overhaul period of the helicopter and its
accessories.

Much attention is given worldwide to the modernization of
flying machines since it enables the developers to obtain their updated characteristics at
minimum financial costs. At present, the Moscow Mil Helicopter Plant (a developer of the
Mi-35) together with the Rostvertol PLC works on all-round modernization of the
helicopter.

In the early March, the first qualification flight of the
Mi-24VM helicopter (a baseline version of the export Mi-35M) has been made at the Mil
Helicopter Plant's flight-test base near Moscow under the state test program. It is worthy
of note that the Mi-35M's export version considerably differs from the Mi-24VM developed
for the Russian Armed Forces.

Since 1978, the Rostvertol PLC has exported about 600
Mi-35 helicopters of various modifications to more than 25 countries. Today, about 1,000
helicopters, developed on the basis of the Mi-24, are in service with the Russian army
aviation.

Modernization of the Mi-35 machine is highly topical
taking into account the remaining service life margin and technical condition of
helicopters being in service with foreign countries, Russia and the CIS, as well as
numerous inquiries from potential customers of modernized versions of the Mi-35 and its
current users.

A program involving the development of the Mi-35M, a
full-scale mock-up of which was demonstrated for the first time at Le Bourget Air Show in
1995, is gradually being executed.

The main goals of modernization of the existing
helicopters are the following:

- considerable prolongation of life cycle;

- improvement of performance characteristics;

- enhancement of combat effectiveness;

- provision for day-and-night combat employment;

- increase of maintainability.

These goals can be attained through the use of a number of
modernization packages:

1. Prolongation of a calendar and estimated service life
of the airframe, system units and equipment.

2. Decrease in empty weight of the helicopter and
increase in the reliability and invulnerability of its systems to combat damage owing to
retrofitting of its fuselage and mechanical systems.

3. Increase in the combat effectiveness of the armament
system, which involves an introduction of the following weapons into armament suit:

4. Ensuring of day-and-night employment of the helicopter
by providing the crew with the night-vision goggles and adaptation of the cabin
illumination, while providing the helicopter with a surveillance and fire-control station.

5. Modernization of the helicopter rotor system, increase
of its aerodynamic effectiveness and decrease of its weight by using the main and tail
rotors developed for the Mi-28 helicopter. This leads to a decrease of its weight by 300
kg and an increase of the main rotor effective thrust by 300 kgf.

6. The further increase in the combat effectiveness of
the armament system and equipping the helicopter with the new communications facilities:

- introduction of the Igla-V air-to-air heat-homing
missile system;

- replacement of obsolete analog computers by a heliborne
unified BVK-24 computer system capable of solving air navigation problems;

- replacement of obsolete radio communications equipment.

7. Provision for day-and-night combat employment of all
heliborne weapons via replacement of the Raduga-Sh day-vision guidance device by the
gyro-stabilized surveillance and fire-control station. With due account for variations in
customer requirements, the Rostvertol offers several modernization variants.

One of the most promising variants involves the
modernization to be performed during the helicopter major repair. This variant covers the
following four modernization packages:

1. Modernization of the airframe, including:

- installation of nonretractable landing gear that
ensures saving in weight and increases the low-altitude flight safety and a crew
protection degree in emergency landing;

- retrofitting of the wing to decrease its weight,
installation of launching frames with an increased ammunition load, and an increase in
technological effectiveness of loading the helicopter with ammunition.

2. Modernization of the armament system:

- provision for employment of S-13 rockets in the 130mm
rocket pod (B-13L1);

3. Modernization of the helicopter rotor system and
dismantling of the secondary hydraulic system that leads to savings in weight, enhancement
of airfield performance, and an increase in invulnerability of the helicopter to combat
damage.

4. Equipping the helicopter with night vision systems:

- NVIS-compatible illumination of instrument equipment in
the crew cabins and adaptation of lighting equipment for night vision goggles to ensure
safe takeoff/landing at night and under limited-visibility conditions and flying of the
helicopter at extremely low altitudes near the ground surface at night and under
limited-visibility conditions at low flight speeds;

- installation of the surveillance and fire-control
station furnished with infrared, TV and laser channels to ensure target detection and
identification at long ranges at night; leading out of the helicopter onto a target and a
combat run at night and under limited-visibility conditions; employment of unguided
rockets at night and under limited-visibility conditions; performing search operations and
ground surveillance at night and under limited-visibility conditions, as well as in the
daytime under conditions of artificial or natural shadowing of objects.

All the aforementioned advantages and the best
efficiency-to-cost ratio make us believe that modernized Mi-35 helicopters are sure to
score a success on the international aircraft market. Rostvertol products are to be
demonstrated at the IDET '99 International Fair in Brno (Czech Republic), Hall Z, Stand
#70; and at the 43rd Paris Air Show (Le Bourget, France), Hall 5, Stand #d-1, Chalet 237,
Row D.